Walking down the hallway with Pansy chattering about some of the first years, we bumped into Harry, Ron and Hermione.
"Watch where you're going Potter." Pansy spat.
"Slytherins. You got to love their cocky attitude don't you?" Ron said sarcastically to Hermione.
"Shut it Weasley. At least my family doesn't have to save up twig by twig for just a measly broomstick." Pansy retorted.
"Go away Parkinson." Harry said and grabbed Ron's arm. "C'mon, obviously those Slytherins have all the world kissing their feet. Don't have to give them the pleasure."
The Golden trio walked away and we walked to our next class DADA with Professor Umbridge. It got a bit warm so I took off my cloak and jumper leaving me in the white long sleeved shirt with Slytherin tie.
"Are you barking mad? It's winter!" Pansy exclaimed. I loosened my tie. It felt like summer.
"But it's so warm." I replied. Pansy raised her eyebrow and we walked into our class with Hufflepuff.
"Tardy Miss Darling and Parkinson. Ten points from Slytherin." Umbridge said. Her voice just irritated me and I wonder how am I still in this class to today. Pansy groaned but I frowned. This wasn't fair, we were just a minute late only.
"But Professor, it's just a minute late." I protested. Another Hufflepuff student entered but she dismissed him.
"That's hardly fair Professor! He just came in!" Pansy exclaimed.
"Quiet!" she screeched. "You. You dare to talk back to me after your little scene with Mr Malfoy? And Parkinson, failing every subject and you still dare to talk back?!"
"But Professor-" I began.
"Silence!" she yelled at us. "Detention for you Miss Darling! Parkinson return to your seat."
My face glowed with rage as I took a seat next to Pansy, nearly breaking my quill. I grumbled and muttered a string of profanities under my breath as the fat pink toad talked. My eyes scanned the room for Draco, where was he?
Anyways, it would've been awkward, seeing Draco today because of what happened yesterday. The Amortentia, bittersweet mint, the lake incident. It would've been awkward. I sat, twiddling my quill and watch as Umbridge so call enforced more stupid school laws.
All student organizations are henceforth disbanded. Any student in noncompliance will be expelled.
Any student found in possession of the magazine, the Quibbler, will be expelled.
I winced at the sound of Filch hammering the stupid laws on the wall. If you were to look from afar, it may look like certificates and winnings when they really are "educational decrees". It's a load of tosh anyways.
Soon enough, DADA was over and I could blissfully stretch myself.
"Hey, have you heard, one of our Beaters was recently injured." Pansy said, linking her arms with mine. She knew how I wanted to be a Beater the day Quidditch was introduced to me.
"Really?" I asked. I just acted concerned when really, I thank whoever that has set this befall on this Beater. Kidding, I'm sorry for that poor lad.
"Oh don't pull that fake concerned look," Pansy teased squeezing my cheeks. "You have to look for Madam Hooch. See if she'll qualify you."
"But didn't you say that girls on the Quidditch teams are rare?"
"Well, I think one of the houses has a girl on their team. I'm rooting for you as Beater to beat the flying broomsticks out of Gryffindor in our next game."
"Alright, alright. Do you know where her office is?"
"I'll take you there personally." she grinned. We walked to Madam Hooch's office and my finger shook as I opened the door. Pansy ran off to her next class already, not wanting to be late.
"What can I do for you dear?" she said, her eyes directed at me. Madam Hooch looked a tad bit wild, her whitish hair spiked up and her yellow eyes staring into mine.
"I..was..wondering.." I stuttered.
"Speak up girl! There's no need to be afraid." she smiled.
"Well, I was wondering if I could try the position as a Beater for the Slytherin team?" I asked her. She eyed me up and down.
"I will need to see how you fly first. Because you are a female and the males, whew, they wouldn't give you a chance even if you were a girl." she said. Considering I have a free lesson now, I decided to use this as a time to show a few of my skills I learnt by myself.
"Accio Lightning." I said, summoning my broom. Yes, I did name my broom, how cliche. My broom came whizzing through and I gripped it tight as I followed Madam Hooch to the grassy area of the castle, where most of them practice Quidditch.
"I presume you already know the rules of Quidditch?"
"A fair few fouls as well." I said, tying my hair up. I mounted my broom as she opened the chest which held the three balls. The Quaffle, two bludgers and one snitch.
"As a beater, it is your duty to protect your fellow team mates from the deadly Bludgers as well as try to aim the Bludgers to your opposing team. Understood so far?" she explained. I nodded my head. "You are to have good balance on your broom, providing the fact that you will be holding a bat and at some point, both hands off your broom."
Madam Hooch gave me a brief runthrough and I kicked my broom up at her command. My broom flew steadily up, without any shaking of course.
"Good!" she shouted. "Give me a lap around here."
I did as I was told, I held the broomstick tightly with one hand because I had to practice with just a hand and flew around the area. My broomstick wobbled slightly but I managed to control it. After a lap, Madam Hooch told me to try flying with no hands on the broomstick.
It felt phenomenal, the flying experience. The wind slapped my face lightly as my robes flared. Soon, I was done, and I flew down where Madam Hooch was grinning wildly from ear to ear.
"You are a natural at flying, considering the fact that you are a muggle." she praised. "Now, time to bring out the Bludger."
She tossed me a bat which I deftly caught and lightly whacked my hand with it. Now I can see why the males always play this position, this bat was heavy! I got used to the weight and kicked off the ground. Madam Hooch held the whistle in her mouth as she unclasped the squirming Bludger out of the case.
The Bludger was some scary ball. The moment Madam Hooch released it from it's confinement, it sprung out and flew in my direction at a high speed. With a simple reflex, I deftly ducked the Bludger which made it angry I suppose and coming at me at a higher speed. Taking the bat with one hand, I channeled my energy into it before giving the Bludger a hard whack sending it flying in an opposite direction.
Apparently the Bludger came back, and I ducked a few hits it tried to aim. I smacked and hit the Bludger with force I never knew I could do. Back in the muggle world, I used to do a lot of lifting and strength exercises. I still do now to shape up. I heard the wind slicing through as another Bludger whizzed past my ear, slightly grazing it. I chased after it, one hand firmly gripping my broomstick and the other clutching the bat.
Both Bludgers decided to come at me at once. I did the unimaginable. I swung myself, so that I was upside down and let the Bludgers fly through before getting back on the right side up and hitting both of them hard. Madam Hooch blew her whistle, a signal it was over. I swung the bat one last time at the Bludgers, sending it down and Madam Hooch used her wand to firmly lock them back in the case.
I flew down, sweat dripping even though it was winter. I was panting by the time I got off my broomstick. Madam Hooch was grinning crazily.
"You are an amazing Beater Amelie!" Madam Hooch praised. "A natural at the broom and Quidditch, why did you choose to take the position as Beater?"
"Well, Pansy told me to because at the rate I hit Draco, she reckoned I will be a force difficult to beat in Quidditch." I said.
"It's a good thing." she chuckled. "I'll give your name to the Slytherin captain, high recommandations of course from me." she winked. I smiled and thanked her before sending my broomstick off.
Thanks to Madam Hooch, I am officially one of the Beaters for the Slytherin Quidditch team. I skipped my way back to the common room and into.
"Guess who's a Beater?" I told Pansy in a sing song voice.
"Merlin's beard! You got in?!" Pansy asked in astonishment.
"Yup." I said proudly and she hugged me.
"I'm so proud of you I can squish your face now." she said happily hugging me. I skipped to the dormitory, with Pansy and flopped onto my bed. I didn't want any other Slytherins to hear our conversations. For one, they will be mocking me and snubbing me because of my blood status. I was even lucky enough to have friends in here. Second, the amount of snide comments and whispering would be endless considering the fact that Ravenclaw has spread some 'lovely' gossip, mind the sarcasm.
I blew my hair up and down as Pansy chatted about today. I was half listening to her because my mind was pondering about Draco. Where was he?
"Is this a girly sleepover thing?" Evelyn asked stepping into the dormitory.
"Well, you can say.." I trailed off and she jumped on me.
"I heard the news. Congrats on making it as a Beater!" she said happily. I laughed and tried to push her off.
"Thanks, but you're half crushing me." I groaned and pushed her off lightly. Evelyn rolled off and fell on the floor.
Millicent entered and technically my first slumber party was happening. Pansy conjured up some drinks and candy. I gently nibbled on a jelly bean from Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans. I grimaced at the taste as the girls laughed. It tasted horrible like liver and tripe.
"Amelie got the liver and tripe!" Millicent squealed. We had a good laugh about it, in our nightgowns sipping some butterbeer and munching on candy. Pansy got an 'earwax' flavour and so did Evelyn causing me and Millicent to erupt into more giggles.
"Next one." I said taking in a deep breath and popping the bean in. Thank goodness this one tasted good and normal, toasted marshmallow. "Gotta good one." I smirked.
Soon after, we were out of jelly beans and were sugar high, giggling and laughing.
"Let's play a cliche muggle game," Pansy said. "Truth or Dare."
I groaned at this game. This game was always a cliche at slumber parties and everywhere. I usually got the worst dares and truths.
"Okay Amelie, truth or dare?" Millicent asked seriously.
"You girls were serious?" I raised an eyebrow. They nodded. "Alright, truth."
"Who do have a crush on?" Millicent asked. I rolled my eyes and flipped myself over so my tummy was lying on the floor.
"This is so cliche. No one." I laughed.
"C'mon, don't lie." Pansy nudged me. I nudged her back. "Serious!" I exclaimed.
"There must be someone you have the hots for considering you have been in Hogwarts for a while now." Evelyn said.
"I bet you, she has a crush on Draco." Pansy said. I pushed her over and fell into giggles.
"I do not!" I said hotly. My cheeks flushed red and the other girls went ooo.
"Anyways don't you have the hots for Draco?" I asked Pansy. She made a weird face and started laughing.
"He's good looking and all but that would just be plain wrong!" Pansy exclaimed. "We're like, cousins, in a way. Somehow, we're just related. And that would be incest!"
"Alright! I admit, maybe I like Draco Malfoy." I said holding my hands in surrender. I swore I saw a hint of jealously brimming in Millicent's eyes. I ignored it and asked Pansy the same question.
"Who do you fancy?" I asked, rolling upside down and giving her some puppy dog eyes.
"No one." she muttered. We laughed and pushed on.
"C'mon Pansy, don't be a spoilsport." I said jokingly.
"It's bedtime girls." Pansy said trying not to laugh.
"Party pooper." I stuck my tongue at her.
"You fancy Draco!" she replied in a sing song voice.
"Shut up." I laughed and turned the lamps off.
Thankfully, word hasn't got out that I might have this teeny tiny crush on Draco. Maybe not even a crush really. I just told the girls that to entertain them even though Pansy can see through my facade. I might be falling for him who knows?!
I flipped my hands and began mumbling to myself. Something I haven't done in a while. Suddenly, I bumped into someone and caused them to fall down and drop their books.
"Oh gosh I'm so sorry!" I said rushing to bend down and pick up the person's books. I looked up and saw Ron.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't see you there Ron." I apologised, passing the books back to him.
"Well you better be." Ron spat.
"I'm just trying to be polite." I shrugged.
"But you're a Slytherin!" he said in protest. This got my blood boiling a little. Just because I'm a Slytherin means I am sized up and stereotyped as a rude, insulting bitch?
"Excuse me but being in Slytherin doesn't mean I'm a stuck up and insulting bitch. Just because Gryffindors have this hatred to Slytherin doesn't mean every Slytherin is mean. We have our own good qualities and bad as well. We are ambitious, shrewd and cunning. That's our special traits whereas for you Gryffindors is bravery, daring and chivalry. I don't get this traditional hatred you all have to Slytherins. Houses shouldn't be arguing about who is better from personality traits and points wise but just accepting each other's differences." I said, my hands making gestures as I speak.
"That. Was. Bloody good." Ron said astonished. "I'm sorry again for mocking you. It's just that you're friends with Parkinson and Malfoy." he shuddered at their names.
"Well, just because I'm friends with them doesn't mean I have to be mean to you guys right?" I said.
"I guess so." he said. "Friends?" Ron said sticking his hand out.
"You bet." I said, shaking his. He smiled at me before walking off to his class. I sorted my hair in a glass window before heading off to Potions.
"Ugh Harry, I'll never get the Patronus charm thing right." I groaned leaning back on a chest.
"You have to keep practicing." he said, pulling me up.
"But all I've been saying is expecto patronum for the past hour." I whined.
"Here," he said passing me some chocolate. "This will motivate you. And I almost forgot! No wonder you couldn't do it." he said slapping his forehead.
"What did you forget." I asked through gritted teeth.
"You have to think of the happiest memories. The strongest one." he said. "Sorry." he added.
"I could just curse you right now but then I would fail. So it's okay." I said pointing my wand at him. I took a deep breath and thought of the happiest moment. I never really had a happy moment. My mind flicked back to the day at the Black Lake with Draco. That seems good enough. I replayed the scene as I tried the Patronus charm again.
"Expecto patronum!" I said loudly flourishing my wand. And it worked! A light silvery mist came from my wand, transforming it into a snake.
"Is a snake suppose to be appearing?" I asked, my snake patronus slithering about.
"Well," he said biting his lip. "If the snake's your spirit animal then yeah. But it's odd, considering your patronus is a snake. Example Hermione's an otter, Ginny's a horse and yours a snake."
"The Patronus charm is suppose to be unique anyways." I said as my snake disappeared.
"Or it can change if you're going through something emotional, like love. Your patronus will take the shape to reflect your love." Harry added. Suddenly, out of no where, a real snake appeared and was slithering fast in my direction.
"Go away." I said. It slithered away quickly before sticking it's tongue at me. Harry looked genuinely surprised. "What?"
"You..you.. can speak Parseltongue." he stammered.
"Parsel what?" I asked.
"Parseltongue. It's when you communicate with serpents. Only I can speak that along with the descendants of Salazar Slytherin." Harry said.
"Just to make it clear, I have no idea what in the world you are talking about." I said sitting on a table.
"Do you understand me?" he asked.
"Well obviously. Aren't you speaking English?"
"We have to go to Dumbledore. Immediately."
Harry dragged me all the way to Dumbledore's office. I noticed there were more educational decrees being hammered up by Filch. How tempting it was to cast an enchantment on the ladder he was shakily standing on.
"What brings you here Mr Potter and Miss Amelie?" Dumbledore spoke. "I presume your tutoring lessons are going well."
"Yes, sir." Harry said. "But here's the thing. This evening while practicing, a snake appeared in our class. And Amelie spoke in Parseltongue."
Dumbledore didn't seem as shocked as Harry did. I stood with my hands on my hips, not understanding anything he's talking about.
"Miss Amelie, I suggest you return back to the Slytherin common room now." Dumbledore said. I quickly excuse myself and walked back to the common room. In the corner of my eye, I saw a figure, blonde, walking into a door. My mind instantly flashed. Draco.
I ran into the corner but to my astonishment, no one was there. Must've been my eyes playing tricks on me. I shoved my hands in my pockets and continued walking until I bumped into two people. Twins actually.
"Well, what do we have here?" one said.
"A Slytherin of course." the other replied.
"You must be the Slytherin girl Ron told us about." they said in unison. This twin thing really creeped me out.
"And you must be his brothers." I said, looking up. "I see the resemblance somewhere in the eyes and ginger hair."
"Sassy." they oohed. I rolled my eyes.
"Sorry for bumping into you two." I said trying to move past but they blocked me.
"Hey, hey! We haven't formally introduced." one said.
"I'm Fred." he said. "And that's George." he said pointing to the other. I tried to seek a difference between them. Aha! Fred has a right dimple when he smiled and George had a left. Easy cakes.
"We're twins. Identical of course." they chorused.
"Obviously. The name's Amelie Darling." I said shaking their hands. "Muggle Slytherin."
"A Slytherin that finally isn't stuck up!" they said happily. "See you around Miss Darling!" they said.
"You too." I said and continued walking towards the common room. My mind kept hovering over the fact that I did see someone in the corner, I think they just disappeared.
I heard from Hermione about the Marauders Map. It's a map to track anyone in the castle. I made a mental note to ask her or Harry about it in my future tutoring classes.
I tapped my foot impatiently outside of the Potions classroom. I had extra tutoring on Potions today and I cannot find Draco anywhere! These days he seems to keep disappearing and reappearing. I walked away from the Potions classroom frustrated and saw a couple snogging in the corner.
Ignoring them until I saw a flash of blonde hair, I saw Millicent snogging Draco. Jealousy burned in me, but why? I don't have a crush on Draco now do I?
"Amelie?" an infamous voice called my name. I turned around from the couple and saw Draco.
"Draco?" I said surprised. If that's Draco then who is the one with Millicent? This is so bloody weird.
Millicent caught my eye and jumped from 'Draco'? This is so confusing.
"Who's the real Draco?!" I shrieked looking at them both. The one with Millicent didn't raise his hand. And then his facial features began shifting and changing and into some Hufflepuff student. He blushed red and scurried off.
"What were you thinking Millicent?!" Draco asked loudly.
"Nothing." she stammered and scurried off. That-
"You alright there?" Draco asked.
"Why have you been disappearing?" I asked, not wanting to beat around the bush.
"It's my father." he said vaguely and I nodded. "C'mon, let's go for Potions. I'm going to teach you how to make a potion Slughorn or Snape would never approve. Just promise me not to use it on anyone."
"What is it?" I asked, I think I already knew the answer.
"Amortentia." he winked and whisked me off to the Potions classroom.